There is one constant in the livestock industry, if you have animals then you will have to build fencing. Fencing is a barrier to both keeping your animals where you want them and keeping predators out.
It has been said that good fences make good neighbors and that is certainly true. As a responsible animal caretaker it is your responsibility to keep them out of your neighbor’s place as well as get out on the road and cause an accident.
When it comes to fencing there are many options that you can go with and that can be confusing to someone who doesn’t have much experience with it. Now, which is the best to go with? Well that is up to the individual but here are some things for you to consider the next time you are shopping for a new fence.
Planning your fencing project
The first step in any project is to plan out exactly how you will go about doing it, and fencing is no different. You should plan out where the fence will be going and how much of it is needed.
It is during this stage that you will determine all of the materials that you will be needing. An important thing to remember is that if it is a rather large job it may be a good idea to purchase a little more than the bare necessity to finish the job, It never fails that you may be off on your calculations or simply that something will get damaged along the way.
Also here at this stage you will be selecting the type of fencing that you will be putting. The type of animals that you will be keeping as well as your total budget will play a factor in your decision.
Some of the common types of fencing that you will find are:
- Barbed wire
- Woven field fence
- Rail
- Electric
Once you have to area selected you will want to prepare the site before you put any fence in. This will mean taking a dozer or skid steer and clearing out all of the trees and brush from the area. You will want to make the area as level as you can to make installation easier.
Select the right corners
A fence is only as strong as its corner posts. A common problem that many people make is selecting the wrong size of post to use for the corners.
The size of the post that you will be using really depends on the number of wires that you will be installing.r
example of an H-brace
A 6″-7″ post is recommended for a 5 or 6 high tensile wire fence whereas a 4″-5″ post is what you will use for a 1 or 2 wire fence.
The depth that you bury the post will also play a role in how strong the fence will be. The hole that you dig should be as deep as the height of the top wire. This means that for a fence shorter than 42″ you should be using a post that is 8 ft in total length.
When it comes to bracing the corner posts there are generally 2 types to use: Floating diagonal or an H-Brace. Both of these types have their pros and cons as well as requirements to consider.
A floating diagonal is good for up to 5 wires and the H-brace is good for up to 8 wires. Now the H-brace will be more sturdy but the floating diagonal will only require 2 posts instead of 3 for the other one.
Types of fencing
The type of fencing you will want to use will depend on the type of livestock you will be wanting to keep in.
Barbed wire
- This is the most common type that you will see across most of cow country simply because it can be cheaper
- It can require anywhere from just 3 wires to as many as 8 depending on the landowner’s preference
- This type typically works well for cattle because of their tougher hides
- Not really a good option for horses or any smaller animals that you may have
- A standard barbed wire fencing typically has posts that are 10ft to 12ft apart
- Depending on the number of strands being used they can be spaced between 8″ to 10″
Woven field fence
- This type can work for any species but usually is preferred for both horses and smaller animals like goats and sheep
- Woven wire fences consist of a number of horizontal lines of smooth wire held apart by vertical wires called stays
- Spacing between the wires can vary depending on the type and use
- The height of the wire can vary from 26″ for smaller animals to over 48″ for taller animals
- There are many different combinations of wire size, spacing, and heights that you can choose from
Rail fences
- Rail fences are typically used for border fences around farm buildings or the home
- They are also more typically found at different types of horse farms where more expensive animals are kept
- There are many different options now that you can choose from for a rail fence
- wood
- PVC
- vinyl coated
- pipe
- There are many different heights that you can go with but usually people go with 4 to 5 feet for livestock
Electric
- This type of fence is gaining in popularity because it is fairly cheap to install and easy to move if you need
- Adding an electric wire to an already existing fence can help improve the fence’s effectiveness
- Corners and end posts with electric fencing require less bracing than a more “permanent” type of fence
- If you are using temporary 1 or 2 strands of either a smooth wire or tape or rope is good
- The more permanent types can have from 2 to 8 smooth wires placed on stronger posts
Maintenance
Another thing to take into account when planning your fence project is what you are capable of doing maintenance-wise. This is because fences, like anything else on your place, will require upkeep. You will need to inspect the wires and the posts for any possible breakage, sagging, and other damage. Also, choose one that will be able to keep the fence line clear and weed-free easier.
So keep this in mind when you are selecting the types of fencing products that you will go with. Look for fencing materials that you can maintain fairly easily such as wire fencing which suffers less damage from the elements than wood. Your pocketbook and your neighbors will thank you.
If you are looking for more information then your local county extension office could be a good place to start. Also, the NRCS department of the USDA has a fence technical guide that will provide some valuable information. Also, Red Brand has a series of very informative blogs about various fencing questions.
If you enjoyed this and found it helpful then check out my other blog posts here.
